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MG MGF Technical - HELP!! My dash is winking at me!

Morning all,

Whilst driving last night I think I may have tried to take a speed bump a tad too fast and as a result heard quite a scrape from underneath!
Stopped, had a look but didn't see any obvious damage so carried on driving.
However, about ten minutes later the Amber "Engine Indicator" light on the left hand side of the dash started to flash.
I slowed down and got to the nearest petrol station, where I had another look but, again, could not see any damage.

The Owners Handbook states to drive very slowly and seek immediate assistance from a dealer but does anyone know what this light means??

Would really appreciate anyone's opinion on this!

Many thanks,

Kris.
Kris Ford

flashing yellow is (I think) detection of a cat converter fault or misfire. The cat is reasonably delicate, but I would have expected you to hear a change in exhaust note or rattle. Later cars have two lamda sensors, I don't know if the later one is exposed or not. but could this have been knocked?
Will Munns

Kris, related to Will's question - what year is your MG?
Rob Bell

Hi Rob,

It's a 2001 Trophy 160.
Just had a quick look at the rear end but to be honest I woulndn't know what it is I'm really looking for so can't see anything obvious.
Kris Ford

I thought if the MIL flashed, it was an indication of the car going into 'safe mode' or 'limp home mode' due to there being a more serious fault detected by the ECU.
A minor fault is indicated by the MIL coming on constantly. If the cat or sensor were damaged, I would have expected the light to have just come one constantly, as its not detrimental to the running of the engine.
The second O2 sensor is mounted on top the exhaust, so would not be prone to a knock on by speed hump.
IMO its more likely the jolt loosened a component in the ignition system or possibly an ECU multi plug.
Steve White

Is the amber lamp the MIL then? Not sure what an intermittent flash indicates - but I presume that there is something about it in the Owner's manual?

If this is catalyst related then there are two things that may have happened. One is cheap to fix, the other not so.
1. The second lambda has failed, or the wiring connector plug has worked loose.
2. The catalyst matrix has shattered.

If the latter, then the only option is replacement. You could ditch it in favour of a cat bypass pipe (you'll need a MIL-eliminator to resolve the warning lamp issue) - but you'll still need a cat to get through the MOT emissions. You can buy them second hand reasonably cheaply though (new they're over 250 quid).

If the cat matrix has shattered, it may be audible as a rattle - but often it is quiet (in which case removal and visual inspection is required).

If the former, you could simply get away reattaching the cable - or replacing the lambda (costs about 30 quid).

Rob Bell

Thanks all for the info.
(The first round at MGF10 is going to have to be on me for all this free advice!! :-))

Think I'm going to have to take it back to my local garage and use their ramps to have a proper look underneath!

The thing that has puzzled me is that the light only flashed for a few seconds and hasn't done it since?
Kris Ford

Hopefully you got away with it then Kris! :o)

MEMS will have kept a record of the fault. If you can get a friendly dealership to hook up the Testbook, hopefully you can interrogate MEMS and find out what caused the MIL to come on. Most likely, the signal from the second Lambda went out of sync with the pre-cat Lambda - for what ever reason. With luck, it will never bother you again.
Rob Bell

"The thing that has puzzled me is that the light only flashed for a few seconds and hasn't done it since?"

Exactly the same thing happened to me ... falshed for about 5 seconds (enough to catch my eye and develop a cold sweat). Hasn't happened since. I was in normal traffic at the time - 8month pregnent wife in the car - so definately wasn't flooring it :(
N McNamara

Kris,
Hope you get your problems sorted out soon, advice is free and freely given, however if you are buying the first round of drinks at MGF10, do you and Vicki realise how many people are staying overnight on the Saturday ? : http://fregister.proboards37.com/index.cgi?board=annoucements&action=display&thread=1117688695&page=8

Suggest you get there early ! about lunch time should do it.

Adrian
Adrian Clifford

This thread was discussed between 09/09/2005 and 12/09/2005

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